The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

"All… life forms with water attributes…"

Winter's explanation left the Fairy Tail members in awe. They hadn't imagined such a receiving magic could exist.

Only Kira, as usual, was mentally grumbling. Seriously? This magic feels like something straight out of a fantasy trope.

Winter continued, her tone steady and serious. "Whether it's a monster, animal, plant, demon, or human, as long as it's a life form with water-attributed magic as the primary attribute, I can receive it. This also includes derivative attributes like ice and snow. Of course, compatibility and my own magic power impose some limitations."

She paused, her gaze softening slightly. "Years ago, the water demon was killed by the man who took the demon-slaying magic. I received its soul afterward and inherited its magic. That's how I was able to save you from the fog demon. But…" Her voice dropped. "My magic power isn't as strong as his. In a prolonged battle, I wouldn't have lasted."

"That's still incredible!" Lucy said in admiration.

Kira's mind was already racing with ideas. "Wait. If you can receive multiple souls, then why don't you just collect more? I mean, Ishgar is full of water-attributed monsters. And humans—though rare—have powerful water wizards too. If you received them—"

Winter's sharp glare cut him off mid-sentence. "What are you saying?! Souls, especially human ones, should rest in peace, not be toyed with for power!"

Her serious tone and unwavering gaze silenced Kira immediately.

Okay, this girl's moral compass is a lot stronger than mine…

Lucy giggled. "Kira actually got reprimanded for once. How refreshing!"

The others nodded in agreement, their expressions gleeful.

Kira chuckled, taking the teasing in stride. "Fair enough. What a kind and principled kid!"

Before the conversation could continue, the door to the tavern creaked open. Everyone turned to see Erza and Gray walk in.

"Finally, you're here!" Kira greeted, as if he were the one running the tavern.

Erza's eyes scanned the room, quickly locking onto Natsu, Lucy, and Happy. Her gaze darkened. "So, you three are here."

Natsu and Happy froze. Lucy felt her heart sink.

…

Ten Minutes Later

Erza's wrath had subsided, somewhat. She had firmly reprimanded the trio, and with some nudging from Kira and Poole's calming influence, she agreed to save further punishment for when they returned to the guild.

That reprieve, however, did little to ease Natsu's nerves. "We're doomed," he muttered under his breath.

As the group shared their recent experiences, Kira leaned back in his chair, soaking in the information.

"So, you ran into a demon using snow magic?" he mused aloud. "It seems all the demons gathered here share a water attribute. Quite the coincidence."

Kira's gaze shifted to Winter. Or perhaps not… Are these demons somehow tied to her? Like an orchestrated challenge? Could she also be… a traveler?

Erza, who had sensed magical fluctuations earlier, nodded at Poole. "Don't worry. Our guild will see this mission through and ensure the demons are repelled."

Poole, who seemed more comfortable with Kira's casual demeanor than Erza's seriousness, smiled wryly but nodded. "I'm counting on you."

Erza turned to the restrained Klaue in the corner. "But first, we need information. Kira…"

"I'm on it." Kira approached Klaue and removed the blindfold and mask, revealing her exhausted but defiant expression.

"You won't get anything out of me!" Klaue spat, her voice hoarse.

Erza's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that." She unsheathed her sword, pressing the blade to Klaue's neck. "You attacked Fairy Tail. You must have known the consequences. If you won't talk, then prepare to die!"

The room grew silent. Natsu, Gray, Loki, and Elfman exchanged nervous glances, each imagining what it would be like to be on the receiving end of Erza's interrogation.

"She's terrifying…"

"Absolutely terrifying…"

"I'd answer anything immediately…"

"In the future, if Erza asks anything, just spill everything…"

Klaue's composure cracked slightly as the cold steel brushed her throat. But she clenched her jaw, refusing to show fear.

The sword flashed downward—but only cut a few strands of her hair.

Everyone sweat-dropped. That's so Erza…

Kira, unable to resist, quipped, "So, your grand interrogation technique was… giving her a haircut?"

Happy floated over, grinning. "If Erza can't do it, maybe Lucy can! She seems experienced with 'special techniques.'"

Lucy's face turned crimson. "What do you mean by that, you stupid cat?! I'm not—"

Kira added fuel to the fire. "It's okay, Lucy. We all have our quirks. I won't judge."

Lucy buried her face in her hands, utterly flustered. "You're not helping!"

Erza ignored the banter, her focus on the task. "If you have a way, Kira, then proceed. This is taking too long."

Kira placed a hand on Klaue's head, his magic flaring as a brilliant blue circle unfolded around them.

"Memory Loading."

This spell, part of his evolving Word Magic repertoire, allowed Kira to access and review the memories of his target. It wasn't perfect—fragmented memories were common—but it was enough to gather critical information.

For ten minutes, the room was silent except for the hum of Kira's magic. Finally, he stepped back, exhaling deeply.

"Well?" Erza asked, her arms crossed.

Kira nodded. "I've pieced together some of her past. It's… illuminating."

Kira began his explanation.

The earliest memory was from 50 years ago. Even then, Klaue was a powerful demon, her form nearly identical to her current appearance. Kira couldn't help but marvel at the longevity of demon physiology.

Klaue had been a wanderer, content to use her strength for survival. Her life changed when she encountered another demon—a cunning manipulator who claimed to have greater ambitions.

"Let's skip the irrelevant bits," Erza interjected, frowning.

Kira coughed awkwardly. "Fine, fine…"

The key revelation came when Klaue joined this demon's group. Together, they sought to unlock ancient magics tied to the Black and White Goddess legend. Their ultimate goal: acquiring powers to rival gods themselves.

Their search led them to Zonia, a land steeped in magical lore. Here, they had uncovered traces of god-killing magic and began targeting the Isisnu clan to extract the Ice Demon-slaying Magic.

"Their aim wasn't just to destroy the Isisnu clan," Kira concluded. "They wanted to turn the demon-slaying power into a weapon of their own. And they're not done yet."

As his words sank in, the room grew tense.

"The rest of the demons are still out there," Erza said grimly. "We need to stop them before they can achieve their goal."

Kira glanced at Winter. Her expression was unreadable, but her fists were clenched tightly.

"This isn't over," he muttered. "Not by a long shot."

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